Syringe-container structure



2 sheets-sheet 1 Z. M. ROEHR zes/- 35 lfwenior ZBISLAW M. ROEH R'l'kornes SYRINGE-CONTAINER STRUCTURE nu MTM (5e-azz, 1963 Filed OGL. 4,1960 Oct. 22, 1963 z. M. ROEHR SYRINGE-CONTAINER STRUCTURE I 2Sheets-Sheet 2 File'd O01.. 4, 1960 Inventor Z515 LAW M. ROEHR B,DamLIiM/u, fiuma; New

:Qornegs United States Patent G 3,107,785 SYRlNGE-CNTAENER STRUCZTUREZbislaw M. Roehr, De Land, Fla., assigner, by mesne assignments, toBrunswick Corporation, Chicago, iii., a

corporation of Delaware Filed st. 4, 196i), Ser. No. 69,5@2 9 Claims.(Cl. 20d-6.3.2)

The present invention relates generally to a container structure whichcooperatively engages with a medicinal apparatus which must bemaintained in a sterile condition, and more particularly to a novelhypodermic syringecontainer structure which maintains a hypodermicsyringe or syringe assembly part retained therein in a sterilecondition.

With the increased usage of disposable venoclysis equipment designed tobe used only once and thereafter discarded in order to avoid the expenseand dangers incidental to resterilization and reuse, the problem ofsupplying such equipment to the user in a convenient package and in acompletely sterile condition has become of great practical importance.If the purchaser or ultimate user is not able to rely on the equipmentbeing in a sterile condition as supplied by the manufacturer, much ofthe advantage over the reusable equipment is lost. Also, if theequipment is packaged in such a manner that during the assembly intooperative arrangement, there is considerable danger of contaminating theequipment, the utility of the equipment is to a great degree lost.

The use of disposable venoclysis equipment, such as a hypodermicsyringe, also presents a special problem concerning the safe handlingand disposal of the equipment after it has been used because of thegreat danger of spreading pathogenic disease or the like by accidentalcontact with the uid which remains on the equipment. It is thereforeimportant to eliminate or reduce as much as possible exposing thoseusing and handling the equipment to the Huid-contaminated parts thereof.

Heretofore, rigid plastic containers have been devised which are adaptedto receive an individual hypodermic syringe for handling and storage.Certain of these rigid containers protect a syringe against bacterialcontamination, corrosion, and other physical damage, while the syringeremains within the container. However, in those containers in which thesyringe is disassembled, the syringe cannot be rapidly and convenientlyremoved and assembled into operating position without danger ofcontaminating the parts. When the syringe is removed from the containerof the foregoing type, it must be handled with great care to avoid, forexample, contaminating the needle cannula.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide an improved sterile container for a hypodermic syringestructure.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improvedcontainer for a hypodermic syringe unit which permits more rapid andconvenient assembly of said syringe into operative arrangement with aminimum exposure of the hypodermic syringe parts to contamination.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedsterile container for a hypodermic syringe which occupies a minimumspace and which nevertheless can be assembled with minimum danger ofcontamination of the parts thereof.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedcontainer for the convenient and safe disposal of a hypodermic syringeafter a single use thereof.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide animproved syringe-container for the safe and ICC convenient storage andhandling of a medicinal preparation or biological fluid.

Gther objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilledin the art from the detailed description and claims to follow when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of a hypodermicsyringe-container with a hypodermic syringe contained therein inaccordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the syringe ofFIGURE l with the parts in operative association and with the hypodermicneedle cannula sheath in engagement with both the needle hub andcontainer closure cap.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view partially in vertical section of amodiiied form of the hypodermic syringe and container assembly of thepresent invention.

FIGURE 4 is a Veritcal longitudinal sectional View of a hypodermicsyringe barrel section of the present invention containing a uid andsealably enclosed within the container of the present invention.

The foregoing objects of the present invention and others which will beapparent to those skilled in the art are achieved by providing agenerally cylindrical container body section which is closed at one endby an integral end wall and open at its other end to permit insertionand withdrawal therethrough of a hypodermic syringe structure. The endwall of the body section is preferably provided with a small diametertapered axial portion which is adapted to sealably engage a similarlytapered outlet portion of a hypodermic syringe. The upper or open end ofthe said body section is closed by a cap member which frictionallyengages the upper end of the body section to form a bacterial sealtherewith.

As an additional important feature of the present invention, the capmember has means associated therewith adapted to have detachably securedthereto a hypodermic needle sheath nested within an axial opening in thehypodermic syringe assembly and having a hypodermic needle held in thesheath. It will be apparent that when the closure cap member is removedfrom the container body section, the hypodermic cannula sheath andhypodermic needle therein are simultaneously removed without thenecessity of the operator touching the sheath, the needle, or other partof the hypodermic syringe. Also, the hypodermic needle can be mounted onthe outlet of the syringe without removal thereof from the sheath andWithout manually contacting the said hypodermic needle. If desired, thecap member can be readily separated from the sheath whenever desired andcan be used thereafter to sealably enclose the syringe barrel or syringeassembly within the body section of the container. When the syringebarrel section is used for collecting a iluid or as a medicinalcontainer, the barrel section containing a fluid material can besealably and protectively stored in the container body section. Thesyringe barrel section at its lower end forms a sealing engagement withthe lower end of the container body section and has the upper endthereof sealed by the piston tip.

In the speciiic embodiment `of the present invention shown in FIGURES land 2 of the drawing, t-he container 1d is formedof a generally hollowcylindrical body section i2 which is closed at its `lower end by astepwise inwatrdly tapering end wall 14 integral with the lateral wall13 of the tbody section l2 and a closure cap member 16 closing the upperend #of the body section l2. The upper end of .the body section 12 isunobstructed to permit insertion and withdrawal therethrough of ahypodermic' syringe assembly 24%. The extreme upper end portion of thebody section 12. is preferably provided with an enlarged diametersection 'l5 to accommodate an outwardly iared portion of the syringeassembly Ztl. In order to maintain the syringe assembly 2li in a sterilecondition within the container -body section 12, the closure cap 16mounted on the enlarged section is adapted to frictionally engage thesection 15 to form a bacterial seal therewith.

The lower end wall .14 of the body :section 12 has a iirst inwardly anddownwardly tapered section 17 and a second downwardly and inwardlytapered section 1S which provides a frusto-conioal axial recess portion.The inner lateral surface 19 of the tapered vsection 18 is adapted toform a sealing engagement with fthe lower end portion of a hypodcrmicsyringe. The surface 19 preferably has a standard Luer taper.

'Ilhe hypoderrmic syringe assembly 2d is comprised of a generally hollowcylindrical syringe barrel section 21 having an extenior diameterslightly smaller than the interior diameter of the container bodysection 12. rlhe outer end of the barrel section 21 is dared outwardly,as at 22, to provide a finger grip section. The barrel section 21 has lalength slightly greater than the body section 12 so that the barrelsection 21 projects slightly beyond the end of the body section 12 tofacilitate removal thereof from the container. The lower end of thesyringe body section 21 has a small diameter axial discharge outlet 23which is delined by a forwardly extending tubular portion 24 having theouter lateral wall tapered inwardly to provide a standard Luer taperthereon. lihe tubular portion 24 is dimensioned such that it forms ascalable engagement with surface 19 of the container body section 12.

A hollow cylindrical piston member 25 with a conventional sealing pistontip 26 mounted on the forward end thereof is reciprocably disposedwithin the syringe barrel section 21. The piston member has the outerend flared outwardly, :as at 27, to provide a bearing sufrface for anoperators thumb during manipulation thereof. The piston member 25 isalso slightly longer than the barrel section 21 so that it projectsbeyond the end Vof the body section 12.

A hypodernric needle protective sheath member 3b having a hyp'odenmicneedle assembly 32 removably held therein Ais disposed within the hollowcylindrical interior of ithe piston @member 25, as best shown in FIGUREl of the drawing. The sheath member 31) is held Within the axial openingin the piston member 25 with the closed end 35 extending upwardly towardthe cap member 16 and having the hypodermic hub assembly 32 mounted inthe open llower end thereof. The hub 33 of the handle assembly 32removably engages the 'open end of the shealth so that the needlecannula 34 is protectively enclosed within the sheath 30.

The upper closed end portion 3S of the sheath 3), in accordance with thepresent invention, is integrally assooiated with the container closurecap 16 by providing on the interior surface of cap 16 an axiallyextending annular section 36 forming a cylindrical recess into which theend portion `35 of the sheath 3Q' is inserted to form a frictionalengagement therewith. The end portion 35 of the sheath 3l)l preferablyhas a diameter slightly larger than the cylindrical recess portion ofthe annular section 36 so that the respective interengaging parts can bepress fitted together but can be readily separated when desired.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURE 3 of thedrawing, the cylindrical body section 41 ofthe container 40, the syringebarrel section 42, and the piston member 45 have the same form andfunction as the corresponding parts of fthe structure shown in FIGURE l.The modilied form of FIGURE 3 differs from the previously describedembodiment of FIGURE 1, however, in that the sheath 5G' and the closurecap member 52 `are connected integrally by means of a readily frangibleneck section 5S :extending between and integral with the innertransverse subface 56 of the cap 52 and dermic needle assembly di? heldtherein will be removed from the interior of the piston member 45 andthe container body section 41 when the cap mem-ber 52 is removed fromvthe end of the body section 41. The needle assembly 69 is thus adaptedto [be mounted on the discharge outlet of a hypodermic syringe in thesame 1nanner as in the previous embodiment with minimum danger ofbacterial contamination.

The integrally connected sheath 50 and cap member 52 can be separatedeither before or after the needle assembly 69 is mounted yon thedischarge outlet `43 of the hypodermic syringe 'by causing the capmember 52 to rotate relative to the sheath 56; 1f desired, however, thecap S2 and sheath 50 can be allowed to remain connected integrally sothat the cap member 52 serves as a support for the needle 'assembly 6Gand hypodermic syringe, in the same manner as shown in FlGURE 2 of thedrawing.

After the hypodermic syringe has been used to collect a iuid sample,such as blood, it is frequently necessary to transport the sample to alaboratory where the sample is analyzed, tested, centrifuged to separateinto its cornponents or the like. The container of the present inventionis particularly suited to facilitate the safe and convenient transportand. handling of such a iluid sample. Pthus, for example, the syringebarrel section `42 disposed in an inverted position with a sealingpiston tip 46 sealably mounted adjacent the ope-n end thereof spacedfrom the discharge outlet 43 and having a iiuid sample sub-A stantiallycompletely filling the interior thereof is inserted into the bodysection 41 while it is 4held in a substantially vertical position withthe tapered portion 47 of the closed end thereof uppermost until theouter surface of the tapered portion 48 of the syringe barrel section 42forms a sealing engagement with the inner surface of the tapered portion47. The container body section 41 can then be held in any positionwithout danger of loss of the duid sample there-in, since the iiuid issealably held within the barrel section 42 between the sealing tip 46and the interengaging surfaces 47 and 48. The closure cap member 52 isthen mounted ove/r the end of the body section 41 to provide anadditional bacterial seal, 'as best shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawing.

The container-syringe assembly in the form shown in FIGURE 4 is adaptedfor convenient and safe usage in a standard centrifuge cup. Thus it willbe apparent that the fluid sample sealably held Within the syringebarrel 42 after centrifuging can be readily separated into distinctfractions simply by moving the piston tip 46 inwardly iu the barrelsection 42 to eject one or more of the separate components from theoutlet under the syringe barrel after removal thereof from the container49.

It will also be evident that the syringe-container assembly shown inFIGURE 4 of the drawing can be used as a convenient and safe package orcontainer for a medicament. Thus, by filling the hypodermic syringebarrel 42 with a medicament with the upper end thereof sealed by theplunger tip 46 and having the lower end thereof forming a sealingengagement with the tapered portion 47 of the container body section e1,the medicament is sealably held therein free of bacterial contamination.The cap member 52 mounted on the upper end of the container body section41 provides an additional bacterial seal to prevent contamination of theplunger tip 46. The cap member 52 in the latter structure will bepreferably sealably secured to the body section 41 by a frangible seal.

After the hypodermic syringe has been used for its intended punpose andis ready for disposal, it will be readily apparent that the container ofthe present invention is adapted to be used for the safe and convenientdisposal of the syringe. When the container is used for the latterpurpose it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the hypodermicsyringe and needle is simply inserted into the container body sectionwith the several parts in the relative positions `shown in FIGURE 1 orFIGURE 3 of the drawing.

The several parts of the container and the syringe with the exception ofthe needle cannula are preferably made of a plastic materials, such aspolyethylene, polypropylene, styrene or other plastic materials havingsimilar chemical and phys-ical properties. If desired, however, othermaterials can :be used for one or more of the several parts withoutdeparting from the present invention.

Others may practice the invention in any of the numerous ways which aresuggested to one skilled in the art by this disclosure, and all suchpractices of invention are considered to be a part hereof which fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1'. A container and hypodermic syringe assembly which comprises agenerally cylindrical container body section closed at one end by anintegral end Wall and having an opposite end open and havingaccommodated therein a cylindrical hypodermic syringe barrel, saidbarrel having a piston member slidably disposed therein and said pistonmember having a cylindrical axial recess extending substantially theentire length thereof, a sheath member with a hypodermic needleremovably mounted therein disposed within said recess of the pistonmember with the uppermost end of said sheath closed by an integral endwall, a closure cap member mounted on said container body section andsaid end wall of the sheath member being in detachable engagement withsaid closure cap member mounted on the end of said container bodysection; whereby said sheath member and hypodermic needle are removablefrom said barrel and container body section when said cap member isremoved from said body section.

2. A container as in claim 1 wherein the said end wall of the sheathmember is connected with said cap member by an integral frangiblesection.

3. A container as in claim 1 wherein the said end Wall of the sheath isremovably connected with said cap member by means of a frictionaltelescopic engagement therewith.

4. A container as in claim 1 wherein said closure cap member has anannular section projecting from an inner surface of said cap memberwhich is adapted to engage simultaneously an end portion of said sheathand said barrel, thereby preventing entry of contaminants into thecylindrical axial recess of said barrel.

5. A container and hypodermic syringe assembly which comprises; agenerally cylindrical container body section closed at one end by anintegral end wall and having the opposite end open and having ahypodermic syringe barrel extending into the interior thereof, saidbarrel having a piston member slidably disposed therein and said pistonmember having an axial recess therein, a tubular sheath member with ahypodermic needle removably mounted in one end of said sheath member anddisposed within said recess, a closure cap member removably mounted onsaid container body section and said closure cap member adapted toengage the opposite end of said sheath member and said piston member andsealably supporting said sheath member within said piston member wherebysaid sheath member and hypodermic needle mounted therein are removedfrom said barrel and container body section as a unit when said capmember is removed from said body section.

6. A container and hypodermic syringe assembly which comprises; acontainer body section closed at one end by an integral end wall andopen at the opposite end and having supported therein a hypodermicsyringe barrel with a reduced diameter discharge outlet at one end, saidend wall havin-g a portion thereof formed to provide a surface whichsealably engages with said discharge outlet of said hypodermic syringebarrel, a closure cap member removably mounted on said opposite end ofsaid body section retaining said barrel within said container bodysection free of bacterial contamination, said closure cap member havingdetachably associated therewith on the inner surface thereof aprotective hypodermic needle sheath with a hypodermic needle removablymounted therein and extending into the interior of said barrel, and saidsheath being integrally joined to the inner surface of said cap memberby a frangible section.

7. A container and hypodermic syringe assembly which comprises; acontainer body section closed at one end by an integral end Wall andopen at the opposite end and having supported therein a hypodermicsyringe barrel with a reduced diameter discharge outlet at one end, saidend wall having a portion thereof formed to provide a surface whichsealably engages with a lateral surface of said discharge outlet of saidhypodermic syringe barrel, a closure cap member removably mounted onsaid opposite end of said body section retaining said barrel within saidcontainer body section rfree of bacterial contamination, said closurecap member having detachably associated therewith on the inner surfacethereof a protective hypodermic needle sheath with a hypodermic needleremovably mounted therein and extending into the interior of saidbarrel, said sheath being supported within said cap member by forming africtional telescopic engagement with said cap member and beingremovable from said barrel as a unit with said cap member.

8. A container and hypodermic syringe assembly as in claim 7, whereinsaid frictional telescopic engagement in addition to supporting saidsheath is adapted to prevent contamination of the interior of saidsheath and said hypodermic needle removably mounted in said sheath.

9. A hypodermic syringe package comprising; a container'body sectionclosed at one end by an integral end wall and having a substantiallyunobstructed opening at the opposite end to permit insertion of ahypodermic syringe barrel, said end wall of said container body sectionhaving an axially projecting sect-ion with a portion thereof forming asurface which is adapted to form a scalable engagement with a dischargeoutlet of a hypodermic syringe barrel, a hypodenmic syringe barreldisposed within said container body Section with a reduced diameterdischarge outlet in sealing engagement with said axially projectingsection of said end wall, said syringe barrel having a piston tipsealably disposed therein spaced from said discharge outlet, a closurecap member removably mounted on said opposite end of said body sectionfrictionally engaging said body section to retain said barrel in saidvcontainer body section free of bacterial contamination, and a flowablematerial sealably contained insaid syringe barrel between said pistontip and the sealing engagement vformed between said discharge outlet andsaid end wall surface.

References Cited in the tile lof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS478,081 Botsford July 5, 1892 FOREIGN PATENTS 449,963 France Jan. 7,1913 302,739 Switzerland Jan. 3, 1955 805,031 Great Britain Nov. 26,1958

9. A HYPODERMIC SYRINGE PACKAGE COMPRISING; A CONTAINER BODY SECTIONCLOSED AT ONE END BY AN INTERGRAL END WALL AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLYUNOBSTRUCTED OPENING AT THE OPPOSITE END OF PERMIT INSERTION OF AHYPODERMIC SYRINGE BARREL, SAID END WALL OF SAID CONTAINER BODY SECTIONHAVING AN AXIALLY PROJECTING SECTION WITH A PORTION THEREOF FORMING ASURFACE WHICH IS ADAPTED TO FORM A SEALABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH A DISCHARGEOUTLET OF A HYPODERMIC SYRINGE BARREL, A HYPODERMIC SYRINGE BARRELDISPOSED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER BODY SECTION WITH A REDUCED DIAMETERDISCHARGE OUTLET IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID AXIALLY PROJECTINGSECTION OF SAID END WALL, SAID SYRINGE BARREL HAVING A PISTON TIPSEALABLY DISPOSED THEREIN SPACED FROM SAID DISCHARGE OUTLET, A CLOSURECAP MEMBER REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID OPPOSITE END OF SAID BODY SECTIONFRICTIONALLY ENGAGING SAID BODY SECTION TO RETAIN SAID BARREL IN SAIDCONTAINER BODY SECTION FREE OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION, AND A FLOWABLEMATERIAL SEALABL CONTAINED IN SAID SYRINGE BARREL BETWEEN SAID PISTONTIP AND THE SEALING ENGAGEMENT FORMED BETWEEN SAID DISCHARGE OUTLET ANDSAID END WALL SURFACE.